Emmanuel Richardet has had quite the career – and he’s not done taking on new challenges. Hosco caught up with Emmanuel in Paris, while he was still in the role of General Manager at The Westin Paris Vendome. Since May, he’s taken the lead as GM at The Westin Turtle Bay and Spa, a beautiful resort on the northwest coast of Mauritius. Having started his hospitality career as a bellboy, Emmanuel has come far since his early days, serving now in his fourth position as GM.

With more than 30 years of experience in four countries and across several properties, Emmanuel says that the biggest challenge is understanding each property and what sets it apart from the other hotels in the market. This insight isn’t surprising from someone with an education in sales and marketing, but Emmanuel’s heart is in operations: “There is nothing more wonderful than serving people,” he says. Watch the video to learn more about Emmanuel’s career and his advice for overcoming operational difficulties, and how the Marriott acquisition of Starwood is affecting hotels on an operational level.